Ink-well



(No Model.)

W. 4B.l PRATT: INK WELL.

W/TNESSES NVENTOH Arronmys.-l v

THE Nfznnls Pneus co., Fumo-umu.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

Patented 1390-11. 1894.

UNITE TATES- PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. PRATT, OF RAHVVAY, NEW JERSEY.

INK-WELL..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,796, dated December11, 1894. Application filed August 15,1893. Serial No. 483,184. (Nomodel.)

T0 all wiz/0m it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. PRATT, of Rahway, in the county of Unionand State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Ink-Well, ofwhich theY following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in ink wells, and it has for itsobject to construct an ink well in such manner that its mouth may besealed inv an air-tight manner when the ink well is not in use, andwherein a simple and durable mechanism will be provided for thatpurpose, which mechanism will be capable of being operated by one hand,and whereby said mechanism will be so located and constructed that thelid when closed will be held in that position under tension, the samemeans which applies the tension at that time serving likewise to holdthe lid inV the open position when required.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claimz Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specication, in which similar figures and lettersof reference` indicate correspondingparts in both the views. i

Figure l is a plan view of the improved ink well; and Fig. 2 is avertical section taken practically on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The body A of the ink well may be of any suitable or approvedconstruction, and it may be made of any desired material, the ink wellin the drawings being represented as made of glass.

The body of the ink well is provided with a neck 10, and the said neckhas usually produced upon its outer face an annular rib l1, and usuallya recess or cavity 12 is made in the upper surface of the body at therear of the neck, as shown in Fig. 2. A band 13, is made to partiallysurround the neck, said band having produced in its inner face a cavity14, to receive the rib 11 of the neck of the ink well. The band is notcontinuous since it is divided at the rear of the ink well,

and at its ends is made to terminate in brackets l5, which extend upwardand rearward from the neck and rest upon the body of the well. Aplatform plate 16, is pivoted between the brackets 15, the pivotal pointof the plate being near the neck, and usually the outer end ofthe plateis made to curve downward, as shown in Fig. 2. This platform plate issupported between its tree end and its pivot point through the medium ofa spring 17. The spring may be of any approved character, as for exampleit may be a coiled spring, as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which event theupper end of the spring will rest against the under face of the platformplate 16, while the ner between the brackets 15. When the cover is thuspivoted and is in an open position, as shown in Fig. 2, the inner end orfoot of the shank will be removed from the platform plate,

while the body portion of the shank may rest thereon, since the platformplate will be relieved from pressure and its spring will force itupward. The cover therefore can not be closed unless some force isapplied thereto, sufficient to cause the foot of the shank to depressthe platform plate; and after the platform plate has been depressed, andthe foot of the shank of the cover has passed practically to the outeror free end ot' the platform plate, the spring of the plate will, forcethe cover downward over the neck of the body, and hold it in thatposition, since the platform plate will have constant bearing in anupwardly direction against the heel ot' the shank of the cover, as shownin Fig. 2.

In order to effect an air-tight joint between the neck of the ink welland the cover, the cover -is provided with a washer or gasket 20 of apliable material, such, for example, as rubber, andthe rubber gasket orwasher, when the cover is closed, will be held under pressure against anannular flange 2l, formed upon the upper surface of the neck; or theflange may be omitted, and the gasket or washer be brought to anengagement with the upper edge of the neck.

ICO

The cover of such an ink well may be opened with one hand, as by ressingthe foot of the shank inward or in direction of the neck the cover willbe thrown upward, and the platform plate will be pressed downward. Thecover attachment of the ink well shown is exceedingly simple, it isdurable, and it is capable 0f application to an ink well of anydescription.

It will be understoodthat it in practice it is found desirable thebrackets l5, instead of being attached to the neck may constitute anintegral portion or be attached to the body portion of the well, andthat any approved material may be employed in the construction of thecover attachment. It is further evident that in the event the spring 17should become weakened, it may be readily removed and a proper springsubstituted.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The combination, with the ink well and the coverpivotally connected therewith, said cover having an angular extensionprojecting beyond the pivot, of a normally horizontal platform pivotednearer the mouth of the ink well than the cover, and adapted to engagethe said angular extension of the cover, and a coil spring arrangedessentially vertically and having its lower end fitted into a recess ofthe ink well, while its upper end is in engagement with the platformbetween the pivot thereof and the point of engagement with the cover,whereby the platform' will assume a substantially horizontal positionboth when the cover is open and when it is closed, and whereby the coverwill readily respond to the action of the spring, as set forth.

GEORGE C. BROWN, L. C. PRATT.

